David Brooks in "The Character-Building Tool Kit" summarizes University of Pennsylvania psychologist Angela Duckworth's list of key strengths:

• ... of the heart — being kind, considerate, generous
• ... of the mind — being curious, open-minded, having good judgment
• ... of the will — self-control, determination, courage

Brooks talks about inspirational teachers, such as "... a physics professor who doesn’t teach only physics but also the scientific way of life — how to lead a life devoted to wonder, curiosity, intellectual rigor and exploration." He describes facets of character-building at some special schools:

... They have a sense of moral mission, that who you become is more important than what career track you pursue. ... They have a clear goal and everybody knows their role in achieving it. They have rituals to mark transitions. They have retreats and group travel so that people can see one another before the makeup goes on. They provide opportunities for struggle and growth. They often have sacred symbols and initiation rituals so that everybody knows they belong. ...

... and key skills:

• understanding — "... being good at listening and conversation, and eliciting life stories so that you can accurately see the people around you and make them feel seen" ...
• attention — "... How you see people determines how you show up in the world. If you see with eyes of judgment, you’ll find flaws, but if you see with generous eyes, you’ll see people doing the best they can. ..."
• consideration — "... how to treat people well in the complex circumstances of life: how to offer criticism with care; how to break up with someone without crushing the person’s heart; how to ask for and offer forgiveness; how to end a conversation or a dinner party gracefully. ..."

Brooks finishes with discussion of rôle models, moral traditions, great books, self-confrontation, and community service. Good thoughts on being good!

_{(cf What Moderates Believe (2017-08-26), Disagreement under Disagreement (2020-12-02), Most People Seek to Be Good (2023-06-19), David Brooks on Being Human (2023-10-21), How to Stay Sane in Brutalizing Times (2023-11-05), Middle Manager Magic (2024-04-12), ...) - ^z - 2025-01-10}